The Beginning of Wisdom and Knowledge; of Insight and Love

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding.” Psalm 111:10

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” Proverbs 9:10

In his book, “The Holiness of God”, R.C. Sproul recounts a story of a well-known professional golfer was playing in a tournament with President Gerald Ford, fellow pro Jack Nicklaus, and Billy Graham. After the round was over, one of the other pros on the tour asked, “Hey, what was it like playing with the President and Billy Graham?” The pro said with disgust, “I don’t need Billy Graham stuffing religion down my throat!” With that he headed for the practice tee. His friend followed, and after the golfer had pounded out his fury on a bucket of golf balls, he asked, “Was Billy a little rough on you out there?” The pro sighed and said with embarrassment, “No, he didn’t even mention religion.” Astonishingly, Billy Graham had said nothing about God, Jesus, or religion, yet the pro stomped away after the game accusing Billy of trying to ram religion down his throat.

Fear is an interesting word.  It can mean anticipation of impending danger, harm, punishment, dread, or pain.  Fear can also be reverence or the mystery of the unknown.  The Hebrew word translated fear in all of the above passages is “yirah” which means reverence in a moral sense or even better, the fear of the holy.

Holiness is one of the most misunderstood concepts in the English language.  When we hear that God is holy we think we hear God is perfect (which He is), or absolutely righteous (which He is), or all powerful (which He is).  But holiness is so much more than all of those. To be holy actually means to be set apart, or otherness.  When we set apart certain vessels to be used for communion they become “holy” because they have been set apart; not because they are perfect.  They are other (different) from the common vessels.  They are holy.  On the golf course Billy Graham had been set apart as holy (other) and the presence of the Holy made a famous PGA golfer uncomfortable without a word spoken.

Another great illustration of holiness (otherness) and the proper response to it comes from Mark 4:35-41,  “On that day, when evening had come, he (Jesus) said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him.  And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?””

Man is never more afraid than when he is facing death.  Public speaking is called man’s greatest phobia but it is overwhelmed when we are faced tangibly with the possibility of sudden death.  In the passage above, the apostles are afraid of dying from the storm (as afraid as they can be), so afraid that they awaken Jesus, and when He calms the storm (answers their prayer) verse 41 says literally, “now they were more afraid”.  They went from facing their greatest fear (sudden death) to being more afraid.  And they show us exactly what makes them more afraid – “who then is this,that even the wind and the sea obey him?” They were asking, “how do we classify this man?”  “What kind of man is this?”  They were face to face with otherness – Holiness.

The Psalms and the Proverbs teach is that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord and that knowledge and insight are promised as well.  They tell us that fools despise wisdom and instruction.  We have seen that the fear of the Lord means extreme reverence for His Holiness.  Let’s see what some of these other terms mean in more detail.

Wisdom is deeper than great knowledge.  It means “aptly applied knowledge.”  Wisdom is the ability to handle what we know appropriately and in humility.  You can see how important fear or reverence of God’s otherness (Holiness) is as the foundation of aptly applying knowledge to any given situation.

Knowledge means to be acquainted with, that is to know in the sense of relationship not knowing facts.  Having deep reverence for the otherness of God is the foundation of knowing Him.  He is not our grandfather sitting on the front porch with a pipe, He is other than us. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.  “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.  (Isaiah 55:8-11)

Insight means to know well enough to understand and teach.  The fear of the Lord (Reverence for His Holiness) illuminates everything else and allows us to know and understand everything in a new way.  It is God’s Holiness that puts everything else in proper perspective and the security and humility of reverence informs and establishes our heart.

Now let’s look at the most important thing about God’s Holiness. Without understanding God’s Holiness (His otherness) we will never really understand the chasm that existed between Creator and Creature, between Holy God and unbelieving man and we therefore fail to grasp the height and depth and length and width of the love of Christ.  Until we have the fear that existed in that boat in the midst of the storm and have it replaced with the terrifying reverence of Holiness when the storm was calmed we can never know how much we are truly loved.  When we think of the bridge that God built across the gap we think of the creek that runs through our backyard.  We miss the fact that the Grand Canyon in all its magnificence is a trickle when compared to separation that Jesus restored.  The Love of God is more powerful than anything else in all creation.

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen”. (Eph 3:14-21)

 

 

 

 

 

5 Replies to “The Beginning of Wisdom and Knowledge; of Insight and Love”

  1. We take holiness so lightly–we are so immersed in the profane that it becomes our reality, and we forget that we have been set apart to glorify Him.

  2. Keep your elbows near your body for optimum latissimus dorsi engagement, and pull your shoulder blades again and
    down. For instance, you’ll find a way to divide your strength coaching into a workout break up,
    dedicating completely different days to different muscle
    groups, corresponding to push, pull, legs or chest, back,
    legs, and arms. If you’re doing something just like the latter, Gallucci recommends including rhomboid workout routines
    to your workout routine by integrating them into their back workouts.
    “I additionally advocate inserting rhomboid workout routines towards the start of your workout routine. Avoid doing them on the end of your workout when fatigue could compromise your technique,” he says.

    Chest Supported Rows provide a good way to construct higher body strength and muscle mass, while also bettering posture and core energy.
    As there are many variations of this exercise, let’s now take
    a glance at a few of the hottest ones.
    The seated row is among the best workout routines for concentrating on your back muscular tissues — including the trapezius, rhomboids, and latissimus
    dorsi. Because this train is a compound train, involving
    more than one joint, it additionally activates a quantity of other muscular tissues as well, together with the biceps, triceps, hamstrings, glutes and
    adductors. Whether you’re doing rear delt rows with dumbbells, barbells, or cables,
    all are very effective for coaching your upper back and shoulder muscular tissues.
    It especially works your rear delts, that are
    small muscles on the back of your shoulders.
    Slowly releasing the row engages the biceps, constructing
    power with a gradual launch. Speak to your physician or physical therapist before trying
    seated rows when you have a present or previous back, shoulder, or arm injury.
    A private coach can show you safer alternatives to work the identical muscular tissues.

    The seated row, like all workout routines, requires proper form and movement to be effective and protected.

    Having a strong upper body improves posture, protects your shoulders, and reduces your threat of
    harm. A cable row allows for a larger vary of motion and could be easier
    on the decrease again, while a barbell row can be more challenging and involve extra muscular tissues.

    Whereas benefiting from being a unilateral exercise, you can even use heavier
    weights to problem your core extra. Another signal of too-heavy weights
    is not going by way of the complete vary of motion. Your arms must
    be extending all the way out, and then your elbows and shoulder blades ought to be
    coming all the greatest way again. Not going via the full range isn’t simply dishonest the rep count,
    it’s also cheating your physique and your positive
    aspects. The single-arm seated cable row (also often recognized as the “one-arm cable row”) is a seated
    cable row alternative that you carry out using a single handle attachment and one
    arm at a time.
    Cable are very efficient for growing the size and power of
    varied back muscle tissue. Not only do they target the
    lats, however additionally they have interaction the rhomboids, decrease and center traps, teres minor, and teres major.
    Keeping shoulder blades down and back throughout the movement engages the lats.
    Keep Away From using too much weight, which causes the
    shoulders to shrug and pull with the arms as an alternative
    of participating the back. Since the seated cable row includes movement on the shoulder joint, you’ll expertise deltoid
    engagement while performing this train. This exercise results in posterior deltoid engagement
    during eccentrics and anterior deltoid stimulation on concentrics.
    Extend your hips to return your torso to the upright
    position whereas pulling the bar to your belly button by driving
    via your elbows.
    Pull yourself up until your elbow is above your shoulder after which lower
    your self again down slowly earlier than repeating
    on the other side. Ultimately, it’s up to each individual practitioner to
    resolve which exercise works best for them based mostly on their very
    own fitness goals and preferences. Lie underneath it, so
    you’re facing upwards, and seize onto one deal with in every hand with palms facing away from
    you (or use just one handle if available).
    Bend at the waist so your again is parallel to the floor and your arms are extended
    down in the direction of the bottom.
    If you wish to get some bonus load to your decrease back the barbell row is
    a great alternative. The cable close grip seated row is a classic row train, and is the second
    most used row train in our workout log app StrengthLog. By changing the handle and
    utilizing totally different grips, you possibly can shift focus between the labored
    muscle teams. Take a agency grip on the deal with and bend your wrists again barely to minimize the
    contribution of your biceps and forearms. This prevents your forearms and wrist flexors from initiating the pull,
    preserving the load on your back muscular tissues.
    Preserve your wrists in this bent-back place all through the movement.

    During a cable row, you prolong your back and hold
    it on this position throughout the exercise. This causes you to continually contract your erector
    spinae to take care of spinal stability. Performing a straight arm pulldown often can lead to improved upper-body strength and muscle definition. Cable rows are an effective exercise for constructing strength
    and measurement in the back, and with these three variations you can add selection to your routine.
    Cable rows present an effective way to target your again muscles and build power,
    whereas additionally improving posture, core stability, and general muscle mass.
    In this weblog submit we’ll take a look at
    how cable rows work completely different areas of your back, their benefits for general
    health, and variations on the traditional type.
    The primary distinction is the dearth of (or lower)
    loading of the decrease again.
    Standing cable rows are a really efficient exercise to strengthen your lats, deltoids,
    traps, rhomboids, core, and legs. The standing cable
    rear delt row with rope is a very effective and useful train for building muscle and strength
    within the rear deltoids and middle trap. That doesn’t mean the resistance band
    seated row is a waste of time. It’s nonetheless
    an honest various to the seated cable row, especially if
    you’re training at residence with out dumbbells or a suspension coach.
    The secondary muscles used embody the biceps, forearms, and
    rear deltoids.
    Carry Out the seated row with good kind for proper muscle activation. Now that you realize a few variations
    for your rear delts row, hit the fitness center and take a glance at each one to get
    the complete effect. Working your delts can be accomplished by numerous
    workout routines; we are going to point out a extremely popular various exercise – that you
    can do alongside or as an alternative of the regular rear
    delt row. Moving your feet away from the anchor level so that your body is in a extra upright place makes the train simpler.
    To make the train more durable, move underneath the anchor
    level so that your upper physique is closer to the ground.
    Another lower-back pleasant different to the seated cable
    row is the inverted row, which you can do with any suspension trainer, be it a TRX, Jungle Fitness Center or even a few
    gymnastic rings. One of the downsides of the barbell row is
    that the muscular tissues in your lower again can end up getting fatigued, particularly if you’ve done squats or deadlifts earlier in the workout.

    All three sets of fibers are involved in reverse grip rows, but the middle fibers are essentially
    the most active as they work to tug your shoulders back
    and collectively. The center traps work with the rhomboids, that are
    small muscular tissues situated between the shoulder
    blades. Positioned on the perimeters of your upper back, the lats are the muscle tissue that provide
    you with your V-taper and torso width. The features of
    the lats are extension, adduction, and medial rotation of the shoulders.

    The Bent Over Rotating Dumbbell Row is performed by bending on the waist and using a dumbbell in each
    hand. As you row the dumbbells up in path of your chest,
    rotate your wrists outwards and then inwards. This helps to have interaction the muscles within the again and shoulders more than a regular row.
    This exercise could be carried out with lighter weights for greater reps
    or heavier weights for lower reps relying on the individual’s goals.

    This variation provides a relentless rigidity throughout the movement,
    helping to isolate and strengthen the rear deltoids effectively.

    Standing barbell rear delts row is a free weight exercise that primarily targets the rear deltoid and center back,
    and to a lesser diploma, it also targets the biceps and traps.
    There are many ways to do the rear delt row, and you can do it with dumbbells, a barbell, or a cable
    machine.
    Using different modalities is important for recruiting more muscles,
    resulting in holistic strength all through a movement sample.

    When starting any new exercise, constructing a foundation via proper kind
    is crucial, and that usually starts with utilizing both
    body weight or a really light weight. For example, a
    picket dowel, which looks like a broom handle, can function a stand-in barbell,
    whereas permitting you to practise the motion of upright rows to determine correct kind for the move.

    Maintain the bar with a large grip and look forward while engaging your core.
    Initiate the exercise by pulling your shoulder blades back, and then pull down the bar to your higher chest.

    Your biceps and the long head of your triceps, each present in your upper arms,
    function dynamic stabilizers, that means they help stabilize the shoulder as you row.
    Think About you are pulling a weight in course of your torso whereas preserving your elbows flared out to the perimeters.
    At the top of the movement, give attention to squeezing your
    shoulder blades together for maximum rear delt activation.
    The band offers more resistance when it’s stretched and your arms are closer
    to your body, than it does when your arms are straight.

    To accurately carry out a Cable Excessive Row, you must sit
    upright together with your feet firmly placed on the platform and your knees barely bent.
    Maintain your back straight and pull the cable towards your
    upper waist while keeping your elbows near your physique.
    By understanding which muscular tissues are worked, how to
    properly carry out the exercise, and variations or alternatives that
    can be utilized, you’ll have the ability to maximize your leads to strength training.

    Cable rows are a compound exercise that works a number of muscle teams directly
    together with the lats, traps, rhomboids, biceps,
    triceps, forearms and extra. To goal the identical muscle tissue worked during rowing workout routines, such
    as rear deltoids and higher back muscular tissues like rhomboids and
    trapezius (traps), face pulls are an efficient train. Start by standing dealing with away from a cable machine set at eye level with one handle hooked up securely in each hand about shoulder width aside.
    The secondary muscle tissue worked when performing rows embrace the biceps brachii, posterior
    deltoids, infraspinatus, and teres minor. The seated underhand cable row
    is an excellent train to strengthen the muscles in your back, specifically your lats, teres major, biceps, and rhomboids.

    Gripping and holding your barbell will challenge and develop your grip
    energy, constructing bigger, extra powerful forearms in the course of.
    Relying on your grip energy, you might profit from utilizing wrist straps for
    this train. In this article reveal why and how to perform reverse grip rows and the
    variations and options you can do instead. One nice profit is that
    you are in a position to use a quantity of handles with the kneeling high cable row.
    Straight bars, ropes, single handles, and numerous grips are just some of
    the methods you’ll be able to add selection to his movement.

    Some fitness professionals recommend leaning again ever so slightly by about 10 to 15 levels while others insist that a very upright position is
    greatest. He also loves to assist others to realize their health objectives and spread the information where wanted.
    Matthew’s different passions embody learning about mindfulness, strolling by way of
    nature, touring, and at all times working to improve total.

    Weak rhomboid muscular tissues can also end
    in muscle imbalances across the shoulder,
    Gallucci adds. “This imbalance might result in overuse of different muscles, which may make shoulder and neck ache worse,” he says.
    It usually consists of a padded chest assist, a seat, and handlebars or grips connected to a weight stack or plates.
    Many machines permit seated machine rows with an underhand,
    overhand, neutral, shut, or extensive grip. Rounded decrease back – carried out seated or standing,
    there may be an inclination to spherical your decrease again during this exercise, particularly in case you have tight hamstrings.
    A rounded lower back is a weak decrease again and vulnerable to ache and harm.
    As such, you have to do your greatest not to round your again during dumbbell rear delt rows.

    Similar movements, just like the bent-over row, require you to maintain the spine inflexible to keep away from placing stress throughout
    the decrease back. With the seated cable row, you’ll find a way to stretch the spine and the lats
    to allow for a much bigger vary of motion via the pull.
    The cable close grip seated row works your back muscles in a horizontal pulling motion.
    Contemplating all of this together, together with the machine excessive row in your
    back training is a no brainer. 4) As Quickly As your scapula is pulled again, you’ll drive
    your elbows down and again. When you pull, take into consideration driving your elbows down in path of
    the floor, not pulling the handles to your chest. When trainees focus
    on the handles, they have a tendency to make use of their biceps an extreme quantity of to “curl” the
    handles and get the handles nearer. Instead, simply concentrate on driving
    your elbows back whereas the handles will come alongside for the journey.

    Start seated in front of a cable machine with knees barely bent in order that
    they don’t lock out during motion (this will assist shield in opposition to injury).
    Lat pulldowns are an excellent alternative to rowing
    workouts for working the same muscular tissues. This exercise targets the latissimus dorsi,
    or lats, as properly as the biceps and rear deltoids. To perform this exercise correctly, sit on a bench with your toes flat on the floor
    and hold onto a bar hooked up to a cable machine above you.

    Squeeze your shoulder blades together to drag the
    dumbbells up concurrently before slowly releasing the row.
    Seated Row and GVT (or German Volume Training) entails doing a high number of sets and
    repetitions to stress the muscular tissues without hurting them.
    For example, you can do ten seated row sets to stress your arm and back muscular tissues, triggering muscle development.
    GVT is a coaching method bodybuilders use to construct muscle size and strength.

    References:

    what are androgenic steroids (bookmarking.stream)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *